Starter for internal-combustion engines



F; 1; McCANDLESS. STARTER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES;

APPLlc'Anou mm JULY 25. ms.

Pmten June 113, 11922.

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mlwsl F. J. lVicCANDLESS. STARTER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26.1919.

' Patented June 13, 1922.

RAEXQALM.

2 $HEETSSHEET 2.

FRANK J'. Il/ICCANDLESS, OF ALLERTON, IOWA.

STARTER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

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Application filed July 26,

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK J. MoCANDLnss, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Allerton, in the county of lVayne and :State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Starter for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an engine starting device of simple, durable and inexpensive construction, desi ned for use particularly in cranking or turning over the engine of an automobile or other motor vehicle, and including mechanism, whereby the weight of the operator may be used in itself or in combination with the principal muscles of the arms and back and lower limbs.

Mo re particularly it is my object to provideirz. connection with an engine, a movable platform or the like upon which the operator can stand, said platform having suitable means for connecting it with the crank shaft of the engine, and a hand lever o'r levers for holding tne operator steady on the platform,

and for assisting in operating the platform for cranking the engine by means of the movement of the platform.

it-h these and other objects in view my ini' ention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and giiustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a portion of an automobile frame having an engine mounted thereon equipped with astarting device embodying my invention.

Figure 2 shows a top or plan view of my device.

Figure 3 shows a vertical sectional view of the device, taken on the line 33 of Figure 2, and illustrating part of the engine in s de elevation.

F igure 4: shows a detail, sectional view taken on the line- 1 4.- of Figure 2.

F lgure 5 shows a detail, sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 shows a detail view of part of the starter mechanism.

F igure 7 shows a side elevation of a modiiied form of my device in one position of its movement.

re 8 shows a side elevation of the ;'de

Specification of Letters Patent. Patgn-tgqji J 13 1922 1919. Serial No. 313,643.

crank shaft 13 on which is loosely mounted the pinion 14;.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig ures l and 6 inclusive, there is fixed to the shaft 13 adjacent to the pinion 14 a ratchet 15. Pivoted to the pinion 14 is a spring ac tuated pawl 16.'

Pivotally supported at their rear ends on the side frame members of the automobile are forwardly extending levers 17 which are connected at their forward ends in front of the radiator 18 by means of a platform 19.

Suitably supported is a transverse shaft 20 arranged substantially forwardly of the pivot ends of the levers17. The shaft has at its ends forwardly extending arms Q1 at the forward ends of which are pins or the like 82 which extend through and travel in elongated slots 33 in the respective levers 17. Mounted on the frame of the machine on the opposite sides thereof are supports or brackets 84. Pivoted to the upper end of each upright 34 is a lever Each lever is pivoted near its end and extends forwardly as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

Pivoted to each lever arm 21 near its forward end is a link 36 which extends upwardly in the device and is pivoted to the rearward end of one of the levers 30.

The handles of the levers 35 normally stand in such positions that they may be readily and easily grasped by an operator standing on the platform 19.

Fastened between the two levers 17 1s a transverse bar 36 Secured to the cross bar 36 is an upwardly extending rack bar 37 arranged in mesh with the pinion 14.

' A spring 38 may be employed for normally holding the levers 17 in their raised position.

In the practlcal operation of the device just described, it will be understood that when it is desired to crank the engine the operator steps upon the platform 19 and grasps the handles of the lever 35, by which the operator will force the platform 19 downwardly for rotating the crank shaft and thereb turn over the engine.

During the operation of the rack bar 37 on the pinion 14L, the pawl 16 will engage the ratchet 15. If the compression of the engine is great, or if for any other reason the weight of the operator is not sullicient for cranking the engine, it is obvious that the operator can also utilize his nmscular strength by pulling upwardly on the levers 35. Thus it is obvious that the lovers serve a two-fold function. They assist the operator in steadying himself and holding himself firm on the l' lat'fOlll'l 19 and for enabling him to use his strength in cranl-zing the engine.

The handles 35 may als. be used for returning the platform to its upper position which can be done if desired while the operator is still standing on it, where it is necessary to operate the platform several times in order to start the engine.

Ordinarily when the operator steps off the platform the spring 39 will return it to normal position.

In Figures 7 to 10 inclusive I have shown a modified form of my invention.

.ln the form of the device shown in the figures just mentioned 1 have shown on opposite sides of the frame of the motor vehicle the brackets .40. Pivoted to the brackets 4L0 are a pair of parallel spaced links 4:1. extending forwardly and pivoted at their forward ends to upright members 42. The upright members support a rearwardly extending platform Suitably supported above the brackets a0 are brackets 44:. P'ivoted between its ends to each. bracket tl is a bell crank lever 4E5 having a relatively long handle, and having its free end pivoted to a downwardly extending link 46.

The lower end'of each link 4:6 is pivoted to one of the links 4C1 between its ends.

Loosely mounted on the shaft 13 is a hollow drum a l". Fixed on the shaft 13 ad jacent to the drum 41:7 is a disc 18 having an internally toothed annular, peripheral [image 49. Pivoted to one end of the drum ll is a spring actuated pawl 50 designed to coact with the ratchet formed by the disc 48.

Secured to one end of the drum 17 a coil spring 51, and the other end of which is connected with the frame of the machine.

l Vound on the drum 1'? is a cable 52, one lend ,of which is connected to the rearward end of the platform 43.

Ordinarily the tension of the spring 51 keeps the cable wound up on the drum, and keeps the platform 43 in its raised position.

' Then, however, the operator steps upon the platform. 43 and grasps the handles of Uthelever; sm ths weight of the operator aseither direction.

naiaeei sisted by the application of his strength to the levers L5 lowers the platform 43 with a quick movement for turning over the engine.

f it the same time the soring 51 is unwound. After the platform 4.3 has been lowered, and when it is released, the spring 51 may wind up the drum 1? for winding the cable thereon and returning the platform to its normal position. The operation. may be repeated as often as desired.

The advantages of such a structure as that herein shown are largely seen from the foregoing description. It will be seen that the weight of the operator can be used for turning over the engine with practically as much speed and convenience as the ordinary crank can be operated, and with much less effort and. strength.

The parts may be so constructed that they do not interfere with the ordinary operation 8 of the engine and do not interfere with the ordinary cleaning, oil supply, or with the repair work.

The parts are of very simple and inexpensive construction and a starter of this kind can be manufactured at a low cost.

lVith a device of this kind the weight of the body, as well. as'the powerful muscles of the back, legs and arms may be used in operating the starter.

The rigid connection of the arms 21 with the shaft 20 holds the forward ends of the levers 1'7, and consequently the platform 19,

level. from side to side;

Some changes may be made in the con-- struction, and arrangement of the parts of my improved starting device without departing from the essential features and purposes of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of struc tiu'e or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination of a frame and a shaft mounted therein with a platform pivoted on said frame and adapted to support a person standing on the platform, means for operatively connecting said platform with said shaft, and a hand lever operatively connected with said shaft and adapted to be grasped by the person standingv on the platform.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of an internal combustion engine having a crank shaft, with a starter including a platform mounted for up and down movement, means for operatively connecting said platform with the crank shaft, and a lever operatively connected with said platform, the parts being so arranged that an operator may stand on the platform and use his weight in moving the platform in one direction, and may grasp'said lever for using his strength for moving the platform in 3. In a device of the class described; a platform; means for supporting said platform for swinging movement; means for operatively connecting said platform with an engine shaft; a lever fulcrumed between its ends; and means for operatively connecting said lever with said platform.

a. In a device of the class described; the combination of an internal combustion engine having a crank shaft; with mechanism adapted to be actuated by applying the weight of the body thereto for imparting rotation to said shaft; and means adapted to be simultaneously operated for acting upon said means for increasing its efficiency and for returning said first means to operative position.

5. In a starter for internal combustion engines a platform mounted for up and down movement, and means for operatively connecting said platform with an engine shaft, whereby movement of the platform in one direction imparts rotation to said shaft, while movement in the other direction does not effect rotation of the engine shaft, said platform being so constructed that the operator may stand on the platform with both feet, and support his entire weight thereon.

6. The combination of a frame, an engine mounted thereon, having a shaft, a platform mounted for up and down movement, means for operatively connecting said shaft with said platform, whereby the downward movement of the platform imparts rotation to said shaft, said means being constructed to permit the shaft to rotate at an accelerated speed without correspondingly affecting the plat form, said platform being such that the operator can stand on it with both feet for utilizing his entire weight in moving the platform for rotating said shaft, and a handle device adapted to be grasped by the operator while standing on the platform.

7. The combination of a frame, an engine mounted thereon, having a shaft, a platform mounted for up and down movement, means for operatively connecting said shaft with said platform, whereby the downward movement of the platform imparts rotation to said shaft, said means being constructed to permit the shaft to rotate at an accelerated speed without correspondingly affecting the platform, said platform being such that the operator can stand on it with both feet for utilizing his entire weight in moving the platform for rotating said shaft, and a handle device adapted to be grasped by the operator while standing on the platform, said handle device being movable and operatively connected with said platform whereby the operator may use the strength of his arms in addition to his weight for operating the platform.

8. The combination of a frame, an engine mounted thereon, having a shaft, a platform mounted for up and down movement, means for operatively connecting said shaft with said platform, whereby the downward movement of the platform imparts rotation to said shaft, said means being constructed to permit the shaft to rotate at an accelerated speed without correspondingly affecting the platform, said platform being such that the operator can stand on it with both feet for utilizing his entire weight in moving the platform for rotating said shaft, and a handle device adapted to be grasped by the operator while standing on the platform, said handle device being operatively connected with said platform so that the operator may pull upwardly on the handle device for us ing the strength of his arms to assist his weight in lowering the platform and the operator may support his weight on the handle device for raising the platform.

9. In a device of the class described, a platform on which an operator may stand, means for supporting said platform for up and down movement, means for operatively connecting said platform with an engine shaft, and a handle device operatively connected with said platform.

Des Moines, Iowa, July 17, 1919.

FRANK J. MGCANDLESS. 

